Stakeholders Kick Over Murder In Ebonyi Community, Urge Peace

The chairman of Edda local government area of Ebonyi State, Chima Ekumankama, the All Progressives Congress (APC) state chairman, Chief Stanley Emegha and the president-general, Ekoli Band Of Hope, Chief Kalu Ama-Mba have condemned the murder of an indigene of Oso Edda, Mr Dick Nnachi by suspected youths of Amasiri community.

Mr Nnachi was said to have been beheaded by suspected youths of Amasiri community following the lingering communal crisis in both communities over a disputed land.

The stakeholders expressed sadness over the continued killing of indigenes of Oso Edda community and called on the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, to deploy a joint team of military and police personnel to the disputed land to forestall a recurrence.

They made the condemnation during the New Yam festival (Ikeji Edda) held at the Central Primary School, Nguzu Edda.

Mr Ekumankama said that the communal crisis has affected both communities, adding that several indigenes of Oso Edda have been killed and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed.

He said that the situation would be brought under control with the deployment of security personnel to the area, adding that efforts have been made before now to end the crisis to no avail.

The council boss maintained that the killings have been politicised as some desperate politicians in the area now use the dispute to undermine the effort of the council authorities and sow the seeds of discord among the people.

On his part, the APC state chairman, Chief Stanley Emegha, appealed to the people of Amasiri community to end the killing of indigenes of Oso Edda, as the two communities are brothers and sisters.

He described the beheading of Mr Nnachi as barbaric and unimaginable and called on the state governor to urgently intervene to bring the killings to an end.

Mr Ekumankama urged the people to shun reprisal attacks, noting that the state governor and the council chairmen are working assiduously to ensure that lasting peace is restored to the community.

The president of Ekoli Band of Hope, Chief Kalu Ama Mba said that the community is poised to ensure peace, unity and rancour-free Ekoli Edda community, adding that peace has been restored in all villages of Edda.

He commended the state governor for his commitment and dedication in ensuring that all lingering crises in the state are brought to an end.